World Pro Ski Tour back in business, returning with event at Sunday River

Courtesy / World Pro Ski Tour Robby Kelley of Burlington, Vt., a 2012 national giant slalom champion, is among the skiers competing in the March 10-12 debut at Sunday River of the World Pro Ski Tour, a made-for-television skiing competition that is returning after a 17-year hiatus.

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By Staff

After a 17-year hiatus, the World Pro Ski Tour is back in business and will mark its official return with the Pro Ski Challenge event that will be hosted by Sunday River in March.

Powder, a skiers’ magazine, reported that the world’s only made-for-television racing event is being rekindled this season after Ed Rogers, a former director for the tour, assembled a group of investors to bring it back. The event had been popular during the late 1980s and ‘90s and featured top racers from around the globe in head-to-head competitions for prize money totaling up to $1 million. The tour ended in 1999.

Led by Rogers, a Bath resident who is former president of the U.S. Pro Ski Tour, the team reviving the tour includes Craig Marshall of Portland, Kevin Clarke of Fryeburg, Barrett Stein of San Diego, Calif., and John Jacobs of Glens Falls, N.Y. The group looks to capitalize on the popularity of the dual alpine ski race format to maintain a full-season tour and grow the ski industry.

The special debut event at Sunday River will take place March 10-12 and will feature the professional dual alpine ski race format that had tremendous success in the U.S. from 1970 to 1999. The field will be filled with Olympic, World Cup and NCAA competitors such as 2012 national giant slalom champion Robby Kelley, 2015 Nor-Am Cup overall champion Michael Ankeny and 2016 national giant slalom champion Kieffer Christianson.

The televised event will air March 19 on CBS Sports Network, the 24-hour home of CBS Sports, which is available nationally (check your local listings for air time). The Sunday River event will kickstart a more extensive schedule in the 2017-18 season in premier ski resorts all across the country.

Goal: Stimulate the ski industry

"We are thrilled to bring the professional skiing model back to the United States” said Rogers, president of the World Pro Ski Tour, in an announcement of the tour’s return. “The ski industry is growing rapidly and the success of American ski racers has fueled that growth. We are committed to this enterprise to provide high quality events for skiers and ski racing fans alike." He added: "Our main goal is to stimulate the ski industry by providing young racers an opportunity to experience financial success in order to pursue their dreams."

Sunday River, located in Newry in the western mountains of Maine, will host the race in its Monday Mourning Race Arena on Barker Mountain. CQ The race site provides excellent viewing angles for spectators on snow and foot as it is located just in front of the Barker Lodge and the parking lot close by.

"I grew up watching the World Pro Ski Tour along with many of Sunday River's guests," said Dana Bullen, resort president and general manager for Sunday River. "We are thrilled to host the return of this world-class event and ignite a new tour season to come."